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Odessa College
Odessa, Texas · Public college
Address: 201 W University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79764 · Phone: (432) 335-6400 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Odessa College is a public trade and career school in Odessa, Texas, offering diesel mechanic, welding, and cosmetology programs, accredited by multiple bodies including SACS.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Odessa College graduates carry a median debt of $7,750 and earn a median of $42,026 ten years after entry; the state average completion rate is 63.5%, though this campus's comparison is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Odessa College; contact the school for current tuition. The school accepts federal financial aid, and about 21.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $40,930 | $58,810 | $70,400 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $38,380 | $53,340 | $64,770 |
| Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists | $23,580 | $30,680 | $47,180 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $48,910 | $62,240 | $68,410 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $29,360 | $48,310 | $62,270 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $31,380 | $56,080 | $71,870 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $48,550 | $78,630 | $93,830 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $30,320 | $37,260 | $44,240 |
| Surgical technologists | $39,950 | $65,220 | $80,790 |
| Medical assistants | $31,200 | $39,520 | $46,180 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Texas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 65 | not reported | $19,045 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 59 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 54 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 47 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 29 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 22 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 20 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 16 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 14 | $49,601 | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 9 | $49,601 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $49,601 | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 5 | not reported | $19,045 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Odessa College is a public trade and career training campus in Odessa, Texas. It participates in federal financial aid programs, meaning students may use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans to help cover costs. The school holds accreditation through several bodies, including the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Among its 20 program offerings, the most-awarded trade programs are diesel mechanic (83 completions), welding (78 completions), and cosmetology (76 completions).
Odessa College enrolls 4,654 undergraduate students, with 411 completers in trade-related fields. The completion rate compared to the state average is not reported for this campus in federal data, though the state average completion rate is 63.5%. Graduates carry a median debt of $7,750, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,026. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 21.5% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of low-income enrollment.
This campus, located in a midsize city, offers a mix of trade programs spanning diesel mechanics, welding, cosmetology, nursing-adjacent fields, and allied health. Given the breadth of program families—from EMT training to surgical technology—it may suit both recent graduates and adult career changers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and outcome data directly through the listed accreditors and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Odessa College offers 20 programs across families including diesel mechanics, welding, cosmetology, LPN, auto mechanics, culinary arts, radiology tech, EMT training, surgical tech, and medical assisting. The top programs by completions are diesel mechanic (83), welding (78), and cosmetology (76).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Odessa College is accredited. Accreditors include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Odessa College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, Pell Grants, and federal loans.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The specific completion rate for this campus compared to the state is not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate is 63.5%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $7,750, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,026, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (432) 335-6400 or visit https://www.odessa.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Odessa College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition for state residents and continued eligibility for federal and state aid programs.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school to confirm the duration of individual programs.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the listed accrediting bodies and review federal outcome data directly at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?227304.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of short trade programs alongside allied health fields, which may suit career changers, but specific scheduling or format details for adult learners are not reported in this data.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can contact Odessa College at (432) 335-6400 or through its website, https://www.odessa.edu/.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.